Projectile



Oct. 26, 1943. ALBREE 2,332,980

FROJECTILE Filed July 22, 1942 39 as 40 as 42 Flga 2' 30 George NormanAlbree patliof; the projectila thereby producing a'zonei" position;

from the kinetic energy of rotation of the projeofired.

Patented OctQZG, 1943 it I 3 fi fi jogi V V r PRQJECTILE e [George Norman Albree winchester, Mass; I 1 Application July-22, 1942',s eria1 N ;45 ,826- r t s C'i'aims- (quiz-so):-

T e t, ,4 This invention relates to a'projectile designed of a projectilethat V shot frorn a to be launched from a rifled firearm and-which, barrelj'the kinetic energy 'ofj translation therefore,- has its maximum spinning motion and more rapidly than thekin t kinetic energy of rotation as it-leaves the muzzle tion, due largely to thef fi e e v n h of the firearm. Q ;5; energyr ttranslation"i being continually-"ab-' One of the objects of the invention is to pro-' 'sorhed in overeoming 'j the sistance whioh he vide a novel projectile which is so constructed; air: offeifsto thetranslati a m ment of the that, the reservoir of kinetic 'energyo-f rotation projectile; whilei'jth e s which it acquires in traveling through the rifled the temr-e rfalc barrel of the firearm'is utilized to supplement the 10 torce'fretard" kinetic energy'of translation which it has as it me t 7 I v I is discharged from the firearm, wherebythe'pro up l-fpull, during ,-t p Award jectile will have a flatter trajectory and a greater projectile toward'the apex r; sv rajectory will range. g f v also absorh some of the kinetic energy of trans- This object is accomplishedby providing the lationfi' projectilewithmeans-rendered operative by the rojectile p ns" spinning motion .thereof during its flight to re portion of the work normallyldone b t L e W duce the density of the air in the compression energy of translation in pushing th a:

z'oneadjacent the tip of thenose'of the projectile out orth'e path of' the projectile? o n a thereby reducing the resistance of thef'air to the ords in overcoming the airjresi'staf e} Stir 3min translational movement of the projectile. J'By ferred to 'and is performedbyfthe this means the air in the path of theprojectil of rotation. -Theperrarinan ebr I is thrust aside to make'way for it=largelythrough I the kinetic energy of rotationhas the' efi of,;j expenditure of otherwise unused kinetic energy retarding thef m g mjecn1a hu keeping j of rotation instead of solely by the kinetic stherotary -moti ori* oF-the'projectilemore an energyof translation as is the case with anzor'd'i inlproperp relation to the"translational mo 1 I i nary'projec'tile, and such kineticenergy'of trans velocitythereof, thereby'iacilitating the nosing lation isfthereby conserved for maintaing 'the" oven'of-the prd'ectiIeaS-itreaC es the pert velocity of the projectile'fandincreasing"'ts" itstrajotoryQ E range. 'e 1' 1 j '30 f'"lnthedrawih g wherein Ilia e illustral The projectile herein illustrated is provided selected-embodimentof niy inventio" adjacent its tipwith a multiplicity vof 'blades or v 1 is a"fragmentary longitudin wings'or teeth that present air-impelling sin" view throug' h t mbodyin'g 'm" 'nven faces, the shapeofwhich -has such relation to tion; i {I the speed of spinning motion or the projectile g fFig; a enlarged sectionalview with art given to it-by the rifling in thefbarrel'that said broken ut'fon th'eline Rig. -1 surfacesattack and act on theairi ediately; 'Fig a rigitudinal sectionalview o'n-a r surrounding and adjacent to the ,tip' or the prof 1 ducedscale' showing theprojeetileenibodyi jeotile'nosea'nd force the *air outwardly from the invention with the blades; orateeth in ret'r of much reducedair pressure surrounding the nose of theprojectile immediately in the-rear of the extreme point or'tip. Hence the proje'ctile will be traveling through rarefied air and. therefore less of the kinetic energy of translation is absorbed in pushing aside the air to make 'ap y I, path for the projectile. This results-in anim Figifi is airagmenta" sectional view m lar proved sustained velocity and reater" range, to Fig'QZ,butshowing theform.ofthe inv ion a The energy for the work which is done ,by; the i ustrated in Fig 5;," i a air-impelling surfaces in thus forcing-outwardly -Figrfl is eailfragmentar the 'air'inthe path of the projectile is j drawn o rifled bar h' tile as distinguished from the kineticlenergy of 3, In-the drawing2 fl indicates thebodytranslation. v g' fia pr jectile embodyin my invention an It has been establishedthat 'duringthe fiight '55 the nos'efportion thereof. The' projectile 'nose-is f of constructions.

1 c r d to'the rapid rot provided at near its tip with a multiplicity of air-impelling surfaces so constructed that the airimpelling surfaces and thus eliminating a considerable portion of the air resistance which a projectile; normally "encounters during its Such air-impelling surfaces may be provided for in various ways and by means of a variety In the embodiment of theJinvention' herein illustrated these .air-irnpelling I surfaces are formed by a plurality of blades or teeth 22 which project forwardly from the sur: 1 face of the projectile adjacent the tip of the nose. Each blade 22 is formed with a free'end- 23 andextends .in a general foreand aft direc tign; eachblade presenting an air-impelling sur "e ;proj'ecti 1e her'einjshown has a low calib e nose portionforrned with an ogee curvature which'rpresents the eoncavely curved portion 25 i e t p: we get the ln ns u nd e on x ortionflf at the base of the nose. 7 The blades or teeth 23 are preferably locatedon'the concavely curved portion' 25 jof the ogee curvature and said blades are: arranged in 'acircular zone tf h hethe x rem i l th nose W e is shown as'situated within the circular row of blades 22 In the construction illustrated" the air-impelling; surfaces 24 have afslight concave curvature inf atransverse direction and they also havewa slight angular relation to ta-radial direction so hadvah ese s hei ner d t: ,j It isiintend d that th's'projectil 'shallbe rshot that the qu ter edge 28 of each .blade isslightly f. -fiflefilih i r lttt al i a TAWh i n ,ndie t s: he ifl hs, by w icht e, Weie ti e i Ie cas e tithin e h- I he eie t l tr itehareedi r m he a e the d r tiqn. e h a ew h Fla. t wi be given p n n rnotign eollnterclockwise in Fig. 2 as indicated by heatre! n sa fi res d o heo te tive movement of t the projectileldepends of EPUlTSfiHPQQ? h se oft h t oiec l i smu z on th e -.character of the rifling iil 1 ur n the lin w eme velocity, 751 in th .v b rre,-

i h ieeti e j t r ti eaves-thebe o e firearm the'air is parted by the pointed tipZfl of the projectile and flows over the concave sur-' f 25 o e t ne ..-b th .a ow gq 'Ast hi ai e est h pi lytrot in led h ethv 22 ;itJis .:aeted-. up rpositiv y y he a v o imne ms su t ee zk hereei a d i own outwardlyr with 'considerable force in the-general direet onef h a ow b-, 1The fier e th whic thelai rim ell he uriac fit acw zt ea r due 7 tion of the Projectile aboutits ax i su ieient. e th ew-i ut rd uehra ex ehtthat th a he z ne e d a ly s rounding the base of thefno se of the projectile willjhaye reduced pressure and the elfect theretrave in throu h o e v is a the pro ec ile rarefied air. Y V

Th s ou ward m ehx f theI- r d at d b the a r ws is, P8421713. due-to. lthezc n rif s orce developed in the' air as it is rotated around by the...; ad s 2-2 a d. partl my e; s ape ;of the surfaces ZQWhi h thr w}. wdefle tnit cutwa d y; "The-rapid ijhigh-zve eit qu ward incitement which blades 22' impart to the air as indicated by the arrows 1) results in reducing the air pressure in the compression zone directly in front of the projectile and the efiect therefore is'that 5 of a projectile traveling through'a body of rarefled air or air of reduced pressure.

The action of the blades or teeth is thus to dissipate the air surrounding the projectile immediately in the rear of the pointed end 32 and to thereby reduce the pressureqof the .airagainst 'the mi 'i i I f These blades 22 may extend parallel to the pro- .jectile axis, as shown in Figs. 1-4, or the blades may have a slight spiral shape, as illustrated in Rigs; 5 and 6. In either case, however, it is the kinetie energy of ,r otation of the projectile which "supplies theforce' necessary to throw the air outwardly, asilldicated by the arrows b and to create the zone '0 of reduced air pressure. The creation ofsuch zone of reduced air pressure reduces the amo nt e i t etenee W i e P e e tile encounters during flight and thereby cor're s nmn y ue s the ametm t rk w i h t is necessary for'the "kinetic energyof translation to perform in continuing the flight of the projectile.

e v l 3 In other words, with this improvement part of the work normally performeduby the kinetic energy f translation of the p 'gjeetile in mainh m the r h f ene mo em n P 1 39" jectile 'is' performed by the kinetic energy of te i h t el the'tet li et --th znre e w ha a fla e raj t r d e eete i an e- Moreover, since part of the kinetic energy of rotation is beingaPs rbed increating the zone 0 e e tls a esents vthe rot t o spee of he p iee ile ti 'l e. sl wed-$ .9m se ewhatran l thus h tes were. nea ly. apro 'en at ehwi h hes eeQrQ t l ismtl movement :ah i t e t l ilrelee e Withmj i -ta l s: hee wi he e t r a e ssue eine l elee trthan w eah e hee utr t taq ca V t t, j ieeeds nteiee w thtthe v r hig -c libre} i ne eut te snew h relat el w alihr he t eue asthewn'i eweter; ma e. .i a

"elentipei a high calibre n ed V j mi tevem n a m x? e an: tean ty e of 9.1303 eqtilemet the ar h ein I i avi ja mavend preiectile nose. 7, j, sme l-Medanhei er wh qhis' e t di oibe retra -w thin h be y se;th h m t di pa t4, 5 3mm: the r mle na lades.

wi m th ma ;eithetpmie ti asl hei vn m1 etter issh wn as 15 $5 fifilll y li t l F -J -MIT11Q a z dw li it 't dv-pelln' its endajhea i fi ein 1$tOd: nd I 'w l aded. An th ree e pe it tfi ed p essure; s n: forc i escore ;;1ts.-operati- 'POSL'CI shown in,

E .1 o the lades or surfaces 22 outwardly 0nd, manger-l i;at gmei et leand this is accomplished without sacrificing anyp 2:? ahdf heia rwi el l ns m tes 2.2}

t: e elefr iei je ihei he in 21 and? i 'll? integral with th core 33 or'may be a'separate', of Spinning" motionffthe'1prbieti1e twill-they" inertia of the core 33 tends tocontinue its forof the projectile has been retarded, andthe core from the stem as the core tends tomove for- Portions and the employment of the springs 38 zone of reduced pressure around the projectile i the core moves forwardly beyond the projectile A projectfl for use in rifled m d. f

7 dy as an nd p d t or a x a projectile rotation at the instant it leaves the muzzle, said vjectile body, said keys serving to impart to the 'ning motion of-the projectile, after-it has been "Where'this on m iii lv r mp l e qmicave portion of theoge e curvature of; thepro o theinventio jectile' will preferably, be formed on theend of 1 42 in "cates fthe usual' d the 'core 3 3 and the convex:portion--26' of-fsaidaI ogee curvature will be formed on'th'e body "er-j tion ofthe projectile."

rivi'n'g band whichprojectiles are commonly provide 1 These blades or teeth 22 are intended toattack, y 1 I he'ai'r-inthe compression'zone immediately sure I The friction between the core 33 andthe wall to dingand'at the tipof the projectilei'nose'and of t e chamber 4| in which-thecoreisreceived. to" di ec such air w r eb th may be sufficient'to cause thecore 33 tobe' ro-- j "the proje il nd y' l ethe dens tated by and at the same speed as the body of l0 the-airin the space surrounding andir'nmediatel the'fprojectile, especially in projectiles ,of small in frontof the-projectile nose, thuscorrespond size) i j 'inglyreducingth'eresistancelo the air to th Inthe case of a large projectile,yhowever, it translational'm'ovement fith I I v may be desirable tohayethe core keyed'toth'e w b des 01 e h are 1), nd e ert fOr' rojectile body'andsucha'construction'is'shown '5 ward' p lli ng efiectonthe-pr0iecti1e-and ma a a in Fig. 1 wherein the core member 33'is'provided therefore be defined as non-thrust-producing with two oppositelydisposed'keyways 36 and the blades: Norjfare they intended to developer 1 1 projectile body is provided with two kYSfBjjQP-f v rease the'rotarymotion of the projectile duringerating in said .keyways se.'. 'rhis*eehstr iiet on i flight Q fiq 'jpi po s to 1 permitsfthe core 33' to have a movement an 2 b P y n th Sit S l yf e axial direction butlocks the core andtheipro tip ih -p f l' h w l Qll jetile bgdy t th forifptiative' m t; from the path of the, projectile body, andtit. 1

' .The keys at 'areshowninTFig. 1 as being in t kinetic n y-='o r t b hepmiect fethe form of spring pressedlplnsf each of which a p d the Power Q e r l is backedjby a'spring 38 'thatyieldingly eme-h g 'e th s s in its forward operative position. Each spring lc j- I 7 j is confined between its pin 31 and a plug 39 that A projectile designed tobe 'shot from arifled is screw threadedintothe projectile body; The e saidjproieciile a i ae r n s pin'sQSl"areprovidedwithheads to whichlimit Seating-thesesCurvature d' w i g i i the forwardspring pressed movement thereof. 5 perlpheral ur e c v WF a u g The tip portion?! of thefnose on which the. p u t f f m m t f nf blades of teeth 22', eremount'edrnay either be 'msfaceshavmg vsuch t to e direction" piece mountedon the end of the core. In the operatitoiforce the air 'immdiately'surrdundllatter case such separate tip portion may be made gi 9m 9 id y at; an Tangle 130 2" of plastic material, or other similar material that E i g l i l line; offal]; flow ove th H stxrfa, of

will be disintegrated upon impact with the targ Fgg d get. When the p jectile strikes its target the OJ 1 e S g V to be shot-from a rifled barrel, said projectile having a-body portionandr an. axial core po'rtionfree tomove axially in the I body portion from a retracted position to. a for ward operative position in which the front end of the core portion constitutes the tip of the projectile nose, and air-impelling teeth'carriedxby f j said core portion 'and extending forwardly beyond] the surface of the bodyportion, said teeth having air-jimpelling surfaces which, due to: the ITO-z tation of the; projectile during its flight act on I the air immediately surrounding the projectile" nose and force said air outwardly away from the path of the projectile, therebycreating ward movement after the movement of the body then-becomes an auxiliary projectile of high sec 'tional density, which will have much greater penetrating power than a solid projectile of the shape herein illustrated. The connection be tween the head or seal 35 and the stem 3'4 should be such that said head will be readily stripped wardly beyond the projectile. body. 1 The keyways 36 are made with inclined'end permit the keys to be retracted automatically as qjmmediately i the ar of the ti th 'i body so that said keys do not interfere at all with 557 h h h fired h acquired t maximum m the movement of the core beyond the pro ectile i ti d reservoir {of i e energy of The keys 3 accomplish their primary n Projectile having adjacent itsnose and extending during the time that the projectile is ;,traveli'ng generally axially andforwardly-therefrom a pluthrough the rifled barrel 3i) and while afsjoinning I ra1ity of air impelling teeth whichjare so shaped orrotary motion is being imparted 'to the proandpositioned'that during the continued spin core the same rotary motion that the rifiing ,3! discharged which is maintained by its kinetic imparts to the projectile body. I energy of rotation, they attack, the air in'the'] After the projectile has been discharged from 5 path'of the projectile and force said air-outs the barrel 30 and there is no further demand on wardly away from said path, whereby said the keys 3? for imparting rotary motion "to the kinetic energyof rotation is utilized'to reduce the" core, the centrifugal force developed in the keys, 1 density of the 7 air circumjacent the projectile y the spinning m t n of t pr jectile will immediatelyin th rear of the'ti thereof. Q throw the keys outwardly ag n t h ac i n f 4. Aprojectile for useina rifled arm and which the sprin s 38, th y p t ly r e ir l t J has its maximum spinning'moti-on at the timeiit drawi th k ys f m the yw ys -v leaves the muzzle, 'saidyproiectile having adj The spiral curvature of the blades or teeth 22 cent its nose and extending'genjerally axially'an and the shapes'of the a mpe li su faces forwardly therefrom.a' pluralityi ofiair-impelling may be varied within wide limits and according t t t of h c g relation v V the speed and- ,direction;; fi the pinhin irmo i ni of said. projectile during its flight that said teeth attackithe, air in the path of the projectile nose and force, such airs outwardly away; f n;-the

path.. 7 i

45.A .j projectile for use? inja riflediarm .and' which, therefore, has maximum spinnin motion the time it :leayes the muzzlegovslh ch spinninggmotion is.maintai'nedgdurinathe :fii ht-r of; the projectile. :by its. kinetic ener y of: rotation, saidprojectile having adjacent itsnoseand extending generally axiallyand torwa-rdtly'there from a plurality of air-,impelhng butnon thrustproducing teeth. Which are so shaped and posi; tioned that during, the, continued spinning mo; tionof the projectile which ismaintainediby, its

vkinetic: energy of rotation, they attack andjact onthe air in the path of the projectile and force teeth, the shape of .wh;ich .has such relation; to

kinetic energy of: 110-,

the speed and direction off the spinning motion 1 of the projectile during itsfiight that said -teeth attack the air in the path of the projectile nose and force such air. outwardly. away fro'm'the path without producing any appreciable thrust; on the projectile in the directionofits'fiight.

7 are e qie ii i 91. 1 et ifi emi n which th rei ie as itsrmarximum l n -m a t time it leaves the muzz1e,fsaid projectile having a? hody portion and an axial. core memberiree, to moireaxially; in thehogly portion from at-retracted position ial'forwaitd ioperative msit q in h h t e nt l ii-9 e we m her is PFPQSQ Q saidiex bosed, portion of the member ha-vingja plurality of aili npelling' teeth lextencli-ng generally,axially and forwardly there from; the ,shapeioi which" such; relation to the speedarid direction of rotation" of the projectileduring its flight that saidrteeth attack the air v'iri the pathlof {the projectile and-for e Sli h air outwardly away from said path, l T L 8. A, projectile for. :use" in .a rifled arm and which i when fired. has acquired 7 its maximum spinning motion and reservoir of kinetic energy of rotation at the instant itlleaves the muzzle, said} projectile having J adj acent its nose and extending forwardlyiri' the general direction of, its lengthwise dimension a plurality of air -impelling teeth which are solshaped and. positioned that during the .contihiledflspimiing.jmotion of the P J'ecti1e after it has been; discharged and which is maintained by I itsikineticf ener y of rotation they. attack theflair' in and" force" saidjair outwardly, whereby saidkinetic energy of rotation is utilized to reduce the density of the vair circumjacent the projectile immediately in the'rear of the tip thereof and the resistance which the air ofier'sto said-teeth slows down the spinning'fmotion o f the projectile.

GEORGE NORMAN'ALB EE.

the path of the) projectile 

